Understanding these transmission channels and preparing the current set of AfT project proposals within each country’s trade development strategy has been central to the project design process. The AfT project proposals are fully integrated into each country’s trade development strategy and are intended to help the vulnerable sectors that previously benefited from protection but are increasingly subject to financial stress as countries in the region liberalize their trade regime. These include conducting national consultations in all 14 FICs, organizing the first RTM on AfT and the PTDF in the Pacific held last October and commissioning the present study on Aft and Project Proposal and Formulation. The Forum Secretariat has since then responded by undertaking a number of initiatives to address the trade-related capacity building needs of the FICs and Timor Leste. It responds to the Pacific ACP (PACP) Trade Ministers’ request in their 27-28 March 2008 meeting in Nadi, Fiji that the Forum Secretariat examines a possible way forward to address, through regional activities and arrangements, the trade-related capacity building needs of the FICs and Timor Leste.

The present study addresses the trade capacity-building needs of the Forum Island Countries (FICs) and Timor Leste with a view to mobilizing Aid-for-Trade (AfT) resources supporting their trade policy and regulations, trade development, trade-related infrastructure, productive capacity building, and trade-related adjustments.

Free instal Trade Island